Avalanche Incident
Avalanche Incident
Mammoth Times - Wed, Jul 1, 1998
An avalanche that crashed down off a cornice on the north face of Mt. Dana near Tioga Pass, injured three central California men last week.
According to Cole Hampton, a lieutenant with the Mono county sheriff's department, the incident occurred on June 27, at about 9:30 a.m., as Adam Bloom, Christopher Benziger, and Greg Silvi, from Glen Ellen, California were skiing below a cornice on the Dana Couloir. Without warning, the cornice abruptly gave way and avalanched, catching the three men in its path. All three were struck from behind with tremendous force, thrown through the air, and down the slope for approximately 500 feet. When the slide came to a stop no-one was buried.
In spite of a fractured tibia, Benziger was able to hike out in three hours, and summon help. A search was called, and by late afternoon, a National Park Service helicopter had located the party. The two remaining men were then airlifted out by a Fallon Naval Airstation helicopter, and flown to Mammoth Lakes Hospital.
Bloom sustained a right ankle fracture, underwent surgery and was released June 29 in a stable condition. Thirty-three year old Benziger sustained an ankle fracture and numerous abrasions. He was treated in the emergency room and released. Silvi was most seriously injured, sustaining multiple rib fractures, chest wall injuries, a lower leg fracture, and underwent surgery June 30. At press time he was still in Mammoth Hospital.
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